In Search of HESED; Psalm 48, Proverbs 14

May the mumbling commence!

This weekend started out roughly with the regrettable occurrence in Newtown, Connecticut.  The media coverage could easily have us thinking and fretting and fearing if we immerse ourselves too deeply into it.  Let me suggest, as my Sunday School class discussed this morning, that we focus on the goodness of the response to the event.

Let our focus be on the healthy Christian ways to deal with this tragic event.  How the parents and siblings, who lost a loved one, (including the family of the gunman) react in sorrow and forgiveness devoid of anger or bitterness.  Let  us focus on the Christian communities within Newtown that pull together and grieve and seek ways of closure – to seek ways to prevent another tragedy in their community.

Let us focus on God.  What good can come from such a grisly even?  It is a tough question to contemplate let alone seek an answer to.  Let us focus on the pure goodness of our Lord, as the psalmist does in Psalm forty-eight:

We have thought, O God, on Your loving-kindness,

In the midst of Your temple. 

According to Your name, O God,

So is Your praise to the ends of the earth;

Your right hand is full of righteousness. 

Let Mount Zion rejoice,

Let the daughters of Judah be glad,

Because of Your judgments. (Verses 9-11)  

Yes, brothers and sisters, think upon the loving-kindness of our Lord.  Think upon the hesed of the Lord – HESED is the Hebrew word translated for us.  Think upon the HESED of the Lord in the midst of the Temple. 

Where is God’s temple?  It is wherever you feel the presence of God.  It is in your very self – if you invite Christ into your life.  And, from this presence, we praise the Name of the Lord.  We shout out the good news so that all can hear it – even those far away.  Our God is righteous and judgment and redemption and forgiveness will come.

Let us rejoice with the children, who bless our lives with wonder and cheer.  Let us rejoice in the mountaintop experiences where we have met God and were satisfied.  Let us rejoice that God will judge with fairness and mercy and grace.  And let us allow that mercy and grace to flow through us to other people who so desperately need them.  Read from Proverbs chapter fourteen:

He who oppresses the poor reproaches his Maker,

But he who honors Him has mercy on the needy. (Verse 31)

Choose to oppress the vulnerable in your midst and reproach your Creator.  If you want to honor the Lord Almighty, act like His children.  Have mercy on the needy!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out